Does Snogging Count as Exercise?

Every family has their black sheep. In the Stockwell clan, fourteen-year-old Holly is, most definitely the black sheep. Her family, a loony bunch obsessed with exercise, sports, and outdoor activities are the polar opposite of herself. While Holly would like nothing more than to hole up in her room with a good book, or chat on her mobile with her pals, her family is obsessed with dragging her outside "for some air." But this year, as Holly enters Year Nine, the last thing that she needs is more air. What she needs is a fit boy and a good snog. Holly and Poppy have been best friends for years, ever since Holly's older sister, Ivy, abandoned her at the school bus stop, and she was promptly rescued by Poppy. While Poppy's shoulder is always available for a good cry, and her advice is often quite helpful - in an offbeat, bizarre type of way - her friendship isn't the only thing that Holly finds desirable. Not at all. It is Poppy's 16-year-old brother, Luke, that makes Holly's friendship with the hypochondriac Poppy even more exciting than you could imagine. Unfortunately, Luke wants just about nothing to do with Holly. Holly knows that it's because she has hair that is completely un-Pantene-worthy, braces, and, to add insult to injury, she manages to jumble her words up horribly whenever she sees him, so that she comes off babbling like some sort of goon. Holly knows that, if she doesn't shape up, she's going to end up never being snogged. And, according to Poppy, over ninety percent of girls in Year Nine have already had a snog-fest. This is the year the two girls must find fit boys to snog, but the only person Holly fancies is Luke. Luckily, Poppy's luck is proving better than Holly's. She has Jez by her side, a friend for years, who fancies her back. If Poppy and Jez get together, Holly will be left out in the cold. But Holly's fears are confirmed even sooner than she believed. When Poppy ditches Holly to hang with the uber-cool Claudia, Holly knows that her life is completely over. Unless, of course, she can somehow, someway avoid her exercise-obsessed family, and make herself into the cool, confident, and collected person she has always wanted to be. If there's one thing I can't resist, it's Brit lit, so I was absolutely thrilled to discover Helen Salter's DOES SNOGGING COUNT AS EXERCISE? From page one, Holly Stockwell is a girl after my own heart. Her insecurities about her hair, braces, snogging skills, and so much more are relatable and humorous; while her moments of babbling supremacy instantly triggers a fit of giggles from readers. Holly's on-again-off-again friendship with Poppy presents a slight dilemma, and makes you feel for Holly as she attempts to come to grips with her best friend leaving her for someone else; but the fact that the two have so much history with one another reassures you that, hopefully, they'll find a way to get over this minor bump in their friendship. Poppy, on the other hand, isn't always likable simply because

Holly's never kissed a boy before and can't summon the courage to talk to the boy she likes. She has super-strict parents who don't let her do anything. She doesn't fit in with her athletic family, especially since she hates sports. She thinks life couldn't possibly get any worse. But then it does. Holly loses her best friend to Claudia, who has had tons of boyfriends and has super-cool parents. Now Holly doesn't know what to do. Not only is Claudia stealing her best friend, but now she has her sights set on Holly's crush. Holly's not sure who to turn to, but she's hoping that something changes soon...and for the better. If you like THE CONFESSIONS OF GEORGIA NICOLSON, don't miss out on this humorous British tale. Reviewed by: Jennifer Rummel